Container with article receiving pockets



Jan. 16, 1968 L. .1. GROWNEY 3,363,325

CONTAINER WITH ARTICLE RECEIVING POCKET-S Filed May 13, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LAWRENCE J. GROWNEY Jan. 16, 1968 Q. GROWNEY CONTAINER WITH ARTICLE RECEIVING POCKETS Filgd May 15,, 1966 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 6 36 INVENTOR 16.4-

LAWRENCE J. GROWNEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) l 3,363,825 CONTAINER WITH ARTICLE RECEIVING POCKETS Lawrence J. Growney, Pearl River, N.Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 13, 1966, Ser. No. 549,906 14 (Ilaims. (Cl. 229-28) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A one-piece blank from which is formed a carton having top and side panels which include side and top panel portions disposed normally to each other with the side panel portions parallel to the top panel and having pockets for receiving articles therein. Tabs formed from the top panel overlie each article and maintain the same seated in its associated pocket.

This invention relates to a novel container of the type particularly adapted for receiving a plurality of articles in spaced relationship, and is particularly directed to a novel container of the type for holding frangible articles, such as Christmas tree ornaments, light bulbs, etc.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel container of the type including a generally tubular body defined by top, side and closure panels, means defined by the top and at least one of the side panels for forming a plurality of spaced article-receiving pockets, the pocket forming means including a pair of fold lines intersected at opposite end portions thereof by cut lines thereby defining a top panel portion and a side panel portion disposed generally normally to each other, and openings in the top and side panel portions for receiving articles and maintaining the articles in spaced relationshi A further object of this invention is to provide a novel container of the type immediately above described Wherein the side panel portion is in generally spaced parallel relationship to the top panel, and a longitudinal partition panel is joined between the top panel and the closure panel to maintain articles on opposite sides of a longitudinal center line of the container in spaced relationshi I further object of this invention is to provide a novel container of the type heretofore described wherein the top panel includes holddown tabs disposed in generally overlying relationship to the openings in the side panel portion whereby articles are held in the openings by contact wtih the overlying tabs.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a container of the type heretofore described which is formed from a sheet material member, and the sheet material member being so constructed and arranged as to permit the container to be folded into a generally fiat condition and readily set-up therefrom.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the inside of a novel container blank of this invention, and illustrates the general configuration of the blank prior to being formed into folded form.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the blank of FIG- URE 1, and illustrates the general configuration of the blank after having been twice folded.

3,363,825 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the blank of FIG- URE 2 after having been rotated to expose a top panel thereof, and more clearly illustrates the folded configuration of the container blank.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and illustrates the manner of setting-up the container blank to the illustrated phantom outline position.

FIGURE 5 is a top perspective view of the set-up container of this invention, and illustrates a plurality of article-receiving pockets disposed upon each side of a longitudinal partition of the container.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, and illustrates a portion of a side panel of the container defining a shelflike panel in spaced relationship to the bottom closure of the container.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 77 of FIGURE 6, and illustrates an article in phantom outline received in one of the article-receiving pockets of the container.

A novel container constructed in accordance with this invention is illustrated in FIGURES 57 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral It The container 10 is constructed from a container blank 15, which is illustrated best in FIGURE 1 of the drawings to which attention is now directed.

The container blank 15 is a generally elongated sheet material member formed from paperstock, plastic or similar relatively foldable fibrous or non-fibrous material. The container blank 15 includes a central top panel 16 defined by a pair of longitudinal fold lines 17, 18 and a pair of transverse fold lines 20, 17 1. The fold lines 20, 21 are discontinuous in nature and each includes respective fold line portions 22, 23, 2d, 25, 26 and 27. The fold lines l7, 18, 20 and 21 impart a generally rectangular configuration to the top panel 16.

A side panel, generally designated by the reference numeral 28, is joined to the top panel 16 along the discontinuous fold line 21. The side panel 28 is defined by the fold line 21, a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal fold lines 30, 31 and a transverse fold line 32. The fold lines 21, 3d, 31 and 32 impart a similarly generally rec tangular configuration to the side panel 28.

Another side panel, generally designated by the reference numeral 33-, is joined to the top panel 16 along the discontinuous fold line 20. The side panel 33 is defined by the discontinuous fold line 20, a pair of generally parallel spaced longitudinal fold lines 34, 35 and a transverse fold line 36. The side panel 33 is similarly of a generally rectangular configuration, as defined by the fold lines 20, 34, 35 and 36.

A plurality of closure flaps 37, 33, 40 and 41 are joined to the associated side panels along the respective fold lines 30, 31, 34 and 35. The flaps 37, 38, 40 and 41 cooperate with similar flaps 42, 4-3 joined to the top panel 16 along the respective fold lines 17 and 18.

A first closure paneLgenerally designated by the reference numeral 45, is secured to the side panel 33 along the fold line 36. The closure panel 45 is defined by the fold line 36, an uppermost edge 47, a lower parallel edge 48 and a transverse edge 50. A strip of adhesive A is indicated by the strippling in FIGURE 1 and is positioned along the length of the closure flap 45 adjacent the transverse edge 50.

Another closure panel, generally designated by the reference numeral 51, is joined to the side panel 28 along the fold line 32. The closure panel 51 is defined by the fold line 32, an upper longitudinal edge 52, a lower longitudinal, parallel edge 53, and a transverse fold line 54. The edges 52, 53 and the parallel fold lines 32, 54 im- 9 a part a generally rectangular configuration to the closure panel 51.

A partition panel, generally designated by the reference numeral 55, is joined to the closure panel 51 along the transverse fold line 54. The longitudinal partition panel 55 is defined by the transverse fold line 54, an upper longitudinal edge 56, a lower, parallel longitudinal edge 57, and a transverse fold line 58 which is generally parallel to the fold line 54.

A securing tab, generally designated by the reference numeral 60, is joined to the closure panel 55 along the fold line 58. The securing tab 60 is relatively narrow and is defined by the fold line 58, a transverse edge 61 in parallel spaced relationship thereto, and a pair of longitudinal edges 62, 63.

The container blank 15 is provided with identical means, generally designated by the reference numerals 65, 66, for forming a plurality of spaced article-receiving pockets and shelves in the container 10, as will be apparent more fully hereafter. Each of the means 65, 66 is identical and only the means 65 will be described hereinafter for a complete understanding of this invention.

The pocket forming means 65 (as well as the pocket forming means 66) is defined by a transverse fold line 67 adjacent the fold line 36 and parallel thereto, a pair of longitudinal cut lines 68, 74 adjacent the respective fold lines 17, 34 and 18, 35, and a discontinuous fold line, generally referred to by the reference numeral 71, which includes portions 72, 73, 74 and 75. The fold lines 67, 20 and the cut lines 68, 70- define a side panel portion 76 formed from the material of the side panel 33. The discontinuous fold line 71, the cut lines 68, 70 and the discontinuous fold line 20 similarly define a top panel portion 77 formed from the material of the top panel 16. The side panel portion 76 and the top panel portion 77 are foldable relative to each other to a generally normally disposed relationship about the discontinuous fold line 20, as will be apparent more fully hereafter.

The side panel portion 76 is provided with a plurality (3) of generally C-shaped openings 80 through 82 which terminate at the discontinuous fold line 20. Openings 83 through 85 are also formed in the top panel portion 77. The openings 83 through 85 extend between respective tabs 86 through 88 and the discontinuous fold line 20. The openings 80 through 85 define article-receiving pockets, generally designated by the reference numerals 94? through 92, which cooperate with the tabs 86 through 88, respectively, as will be apparent more fully hereafter.

The container blank 15 is formed into the container of FIGURES 5-7 of the drawings by first folding the closure panel 51 along the fold line 32 into generally overlying relationship to the side panel 28. This first fold is indicated by the uppermost unnumbered headed arrow in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. This folding of the panels to the right of the fold line 32 about the fold line 32 brings the securing tab or panel 60 into overlying adhesive contact with the top panel 16 with the fold line 58 positioned midway between the fold lines 20, 21.

The container blank is thereafter folded along the discontinuous fold line to bring the adhesive A of the closure panel 45 into overlying relationship with the closure panel 51 adjacent the fold line 54. The configuration of the blank 15 after being folded in the manner heretofore described is illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and in solid outline in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

The folded blank 15 of FIGURE 4 is set-up to the generally tubular configuration of FIGURES 5-7 of the drawings by folding the blank 15 of FIGURE 4 along the fold lines 20, 21, 32 and 36 in the manner indicated by the unnumbered headed arrows in FIGURE 4. During this folding, the side panel portions 76 and the top panel portions 77 are folded along the portions 23-26 of the fold lines 20, 21 until the portions 76, 77 of each of the pocket forming means 65, 66 are disposed substantially normal to each other to define the pockets 90-92, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 7 of the drawings. The flaps 37, 4t) and 38, 41 are folded into generally coplanar relations-hip after which the respective flaps 42, 43 are closed to lock the container 10 in the configuration illustrated in FIGURES 5-7 of the drawings.

After the container has been set-up and closed at axial opposite end portions, articles A (FIGURE 7), such as Christmas tree ornaments, light bulbs or similar frangible articles, are inserted into each of the pockets 98-92 on either side of the longitudinal partition panel 55. The openings -85 are preferably cut to conform to the exterior configuration of the articles A but slightly less than the actual configuration thereof whereby the articles A are each supported in spaced relationship from the closure panels 45, 51, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. The tabs 86-88 overlie and contactingly urge each of the articles into engagement with the respective pockets 98-92. In this manner each article is securely housed in each pocket and the plurality of artic'es are spaced from one another both longitudinally of the container 1t} and transversely thereof by means of the partition 55 which also serves to reinforce the container 16 along the axial length thereof.

While preferred forms and arrangement of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

I claim:

1. A container blank adapted to be set-up to form a container for receiving a plurality of articles in spaced relationship comprising a generally elongated fiat planar sheet material member, said member including a one-piece top panel defined in part by a first pair of fold lines, a first side panel joined to said top panel along one of said first pair of fold lines, a second side panel joined to said top panel along another of said first pair of fold lines, a closure panel joined to each of said side panels along an associated one of a second pair of fold lines, means defined by said top panel and at least one of said side panels for forming a plurality of spaced article-receiving pockets, said pocket forming means including a third pair of fold lines in part defining a top panel portion of said top panel and a side panel portion of said one side panel, said top and side panel portions adapted to be disposed in angular relationship to each other when the blank is set-up to form the container, means between said third pair of fold lines about which said top and side panel portions are foldable relative to each other, and means formed by at least one of said top and side panel portions for forming spaced pockets into which articles are adapted to be received in spaced relationship.

2. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said third pair of fold lines are intersected at opposite end portions thereof by a pair of lines of weakness which are preferably lines of severance.

3. A container blank adapted to be set-up to form a container for receiving a plurality of articles in spaced relationship comprising a generally elongated sheet material member, said member including a top panel defined in part by a first pair of fold lines, a first side panel joined to said top panel along one of said first pair of fold lines, a second side panel joined to said top panel along another of said first pair of fold lines, a closure panel joined to each of said side panels along an associated one of a second pair of fold lines, means defined by said top panel and at least one of said top panels for forming a plurality of spaced article-receiving pockets, said pocket forming means including a third pair of fold lines in part defining a top panel portion of said top panel and a side panel portion of said one side panel, said top and side panel portions adapted to be disposed in angular relationship to each other when the blank is set-up to form the container, means between said third pair of fold lines about which said top and side panel portions are foldable relative to each other, means formed by at least one of said top and side panel portions for forming spaced pockets into which articles are adapted to be re ceived in spaced relationship, and the means between the third pair of fold lines and one of said first pair of fold lines are one and the same.

4-. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said spaced pocket forming means are a plurality of openings formed from the material of said top and side panel portions, and material between adjacent ones of said openings defining spacing strips for maintaining articles in said openings in spaced relationship to each other.

5. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein means are defined by said top panel for holding articles in the pockets when the blank is in setup form.

6. The container blank as defined in claim ll wherein one of said closure panels includes a longitudinal partition panel adapted to be secured medially of said top panel to maintain articles housed on opposite sides thereof in non-contacting relationship.

7. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said third pair of fold lines are connected at opposite end portions thereof by a pair of cut lines, the means between said third pair of fold lines being a discontinuous fold line along which said top panel portion is joined to said side panel portion, said spaced pocket forming means being a plurality of openings formed from the material of said top and side panel portions whereby material between adjacent ones of said openings defines spacing strips for maintaining articles in said pockets in spaced relationship to each other.

8. The container blank as defined in claim 7 wherein means are defined by said top panel for being disposed in generally spaced parallel relationship to said side panel portion for holding articles in the openings when the blank is in set-up form.

9. The container blank as defined in claim 7 wherein said blank is in folded form and includes second top and side panel portions substantially identical to said firstmentioned top and side panel portions, said first-mentioned top and side panel portions being in a generally common plane, and said second top and side panel portions being in overlying relationship to each other.

10. A container of the type adapted to receive a plurality of articles in spaced relationship comprising a generally tubular body, said body including a top panel, a side panel joined by an associated one of a pair of fold lines to said top panel, a closure panel joined by an associated one of a second pair of fold lines to respective ones of said side panels, means defined by said top panel and at leastone of said side panels for forming a plurality of spaced article-receiving pockets, said pocket forming means including a third pair of fold lines between a fold line of each of said first-mentioned and second pair of fold lines, said third pair of fold lines in part defining a top panel portion of said top panel and a side panel portion of said one side panel, said top and side panel portions being disposed generally normally to each other, said side panel portion being disposed in spaced parallel relationship to said closure panel and said top panel, and said pocket forming means being openings in at least one of said top and side panel portions.

11. A container of the type adapted to receive a plurality of articles in spaced relationship comprising a generally tubular body, said body including a top panel, a side panel joined by an associated one of a pair of fold lines to said top panel, a closure panel joined by an associated one of a second pair of fold lines to respective ones of said side panels, means defined by said top panel and at least one of said side panels for forming a plurality of spcaed article-receiving pockets, said pocket forming means including a third pair of fold lines between a fold line of each of said first-mentioned and second pair of fold lines, said first pair of fold lines being intersected at opposite end portions thereof by a pair of cut lines, thereby in part defining a top panel portion of said top panel and a side panel portion of said one side panel, said top and side panel portions being disposed generally normally to each other, said pocket forming means being openings in at least one of said top and side panel portions, said side panel portion being in generally spaced parallel relationship to said top panel, and a longitudinal partition panel being joined between said top panel and one of said closure panels.

12. The container as defined in claim 11 wherein said top panel includes holddown tabs disposed in generally overlying relationship to the openings in said side panel portion whereby articles are held in said openings by contact with the overlying tabs.

13. A container as defined in claim 10 including a closure flap joined to at least one of said top, side and closure panels along a fold line disposed normally to at least one of said three-mentioned pair of fold lines.

14. The container as defined in claim 13 including a longitudinal partition panel disposed between said side panels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,609,981 9/1952 Bolding 229--28 2,775,391 12/1956 Vines 229-28 3,001,684 9/1961 Wenzel 229-28 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner. 

